"Sixty years ago, during the War of National Destiny, our Dragon Country won a bitter victory, but was ambushed from four directions."
"My father, the King, was stationed at Border Defense Station 318. Later, as the population grew, 318 City gradually came into being."
"My father knew that the peace of reproduction and prosperity was hard-won. Our Dragon Country must recuperate and build strength. Furthermore, these warriors from the Indian God Country established companies here and engaged in trade with us. Ordinary minor conflicts were endured."
"'He who is impatient about small things will spoil great plans.'"
"Twenty years ago, when my father was injured and fell into a coma, these warriors from the Indian God Country became increasingly rampant. However, on the whole, they were still within controllable limits."
"If a severe conflict were to erupt, the worst outcome could be renewed border warfare. At that time, who knows how many people would die."
"After my father fell into a coma, my mother, the Queen, issued an order: try to tolerate minor skirmishes and do not fall for the enemy's schemes to provoke conflict."
"Once conflict reignites, not only will 318 City be in chaos, but the border will also see renewed warfare. My father's life's work was all invested in 318 City. If that happens, his life's work will be destroyed, and my father will become a sinner who broke the sixty years of peace in the Dragon Country."
"The soldiers, from top to bottom, all understood this point. Therefore, they chose to tolerate and retreat in minor conflicts."
"Thirty years ago, my father killed King Obiluo of the Indian God Country. Now, thirty kilometers beyond the border of 318 City, a city belonging to the Indian God Country is garrisoned by that King Obiluo's brother."
"King Obiluo's brother harbors deep hatred for my Royal Palace, and thus specifically dispatched a considerable number of warriors disguised as members of trading companies to station themselves in 318 City."
"That King Obiluo's brother wishes nothing more than for my Zhenxi Army to cause major incidents with the people of the Indian God Country within the city. This way, he will have a pretext to reignite the flames of war."
Gong Luo Que painstakingly explained the situation in 318 City. If King Gong were alive, King Obiluo's brother would certainly not dare to be so arrogant.
However, King Gong had been severely injured and comatose for twenty years. With wolfish ambition, how could the revenge for his brother's murder not be sought?
With pressure from all sides falling upon the Royal Palace, the Zhenxi Army had no choice but to retreat.
After listening to Gong Luo Que's explanation, Chen Jiuyang frowned and slowly turned to look at him, saying:
"I understand King Gong's great concern for the nation. However, the Dragon Country of today is not the Dragon Country of sixty years ago."
Gong Luo Que smiled bitterly and cupped his hands in a salute, "I hope King Qian can endure for a while. As soon as my father awakens, this predicament will resolve itself and be easily overcome."
Chen Jiuyang frowned and remained silent for a long time before saying, "If King Obiluo's brother proactively causes trouble within 318 City before King Gong awakens, can your Royal Palace bear the responsibility?"
Gong Luo Que's expression was worried, and he remained silent.
Chen Jiuyang understood the situation from his reaction. The Queen of the Royal Palace had already taken these circumstances into account.
Externally, hostile nations eyed the border covetously. Internally, aristocratic families and sects caused trouble and internal strife. Even after sixty years of recuperation, the situation was not very optimistic.
Therefore, the Queen adopted the strategy of "impatience about small things spoils great plans" to deal with the warriors from the Indian God Country within 318 City.
For a nation to become rich and strong, it must interact with other countries. Knowing oneself and one's enemy leads to victory in a hundred battles. If one closes oneself off and remains ignorant of the enemy's situation, the outcome will be the worst.
However, from this perspective, Chen Jiuyang could understand why those aristocratic families and sects wanted to cultivate Heavenly Realm Kings, unseal their own secret realms, and release experts above the Heavenly Realm.
Perhaps many people loved their country, including those sects and families, but they might use different methods, and their perspectives on combat power might differ, ultimately leading to different outcomes.
"...Alas."
Chen Jiuyang sighed, "Take me to see the Zhenxi Army."
For twenty years, the Zhenxi Army had endured humiliation, only waiting for King Gong to awaken. Their days were likely difficult. Chen Jiuyang wanted to see the situation of the Zhenxi Army.
"Very well, please follow me, King Qian." Gong Luo Que smiled. For twenty years, 318 City had stood firm without King Gong, and the enemies of the Indian God Country had not found an opportunity to cause trouble or attack the city. The greatest contributor was the Zhenxi Army.
Orders were followed, and humiliation was endured!
Gong Luo Que thought Chen Jiuyang wanted to visit the Zhenxi Army to prepare to form his own new army, so he led the way.
If anyone else wanted to visit the Zhenxi Army, Gong Luo Que would have refused outright. But Chen Jiuyang was different. Chen Jiuyang was the Sixth King of the Dragon Country and was highly likely to be able to heal his father. Thus, Gong Luo Que agreed to let Chen Jiuyang visit the Zhenxi Army.
Next to the Royal Palace was the Zhenxi Army camp.
There were sentry posts on the ground, and the main camp was below.
What met the eye were tanks, aircraft, training grounds, and then the soldiers' dormitories.
The layout was very similar to the Tianqi Legion's camp.
There were passages in all directions, making support and preparation extremely convenient.
"Our Zhenxi Army has thirty thousand men, composed of the Artillery Regiment, the Aviation Regiment, and the Warrior Division," Gong Luo Que introduced.
Chen Jiuyang looked around. The dense ranks of soldiers were all engaged in their own tasks, either training or preparing.
But among them were many old soldiers with white hair!
Seeing these old soldiers, Chen Jiuyang's gaze immediately became solemn, and he stopped walking.
Gong Luo Que saw Chen Jiuyang's gaze fall upon the old soldiers and smiled, "These old generals are from the group who fought alongside my father. They fought here, got married, had children, and their descendants also joined our Zhenxi Army."
"These old generals are our Zhenxi Army's most precious treasures."
"Because of them, our Zhenxi Army has defended 318 City without incident. Their discipline manages our army, and they personally serve as squad leaders and instructors for every new recruit company that joins the Zhenxi Army."
These old generals were advanced in years, but in terms of discipline, patriotism, fearlessness, and sacrifice, no one could compare to them.
They were the true unsung heroes of the nation, toiling silently and sacrificing.
Chen Jiuyang marveled, "I didn't expect so many heroes to be here. No wonder the Zhenxi Army has been as stable as a rock and as firm as iron for so many years."
"Alas," Gong Luo Que said, "these old generals do not have high martial arts talent, and their martial cultivation has never been able to advance. They have dedicated their lives to the country, and can only watch them grow old, but can do nothing for them."
Chen Jiuyang also fell silent. After a long while, he said, "Perhaps seeing the people of the Dragon Country living in peace and contentment, and being able to wear warm clothes and eat their fill, is enough for them."
"This is the last line of defense for our Dragon Country."
Chen Jiuyang looked more closely and noticed many injured and disabled soldiers in the Zhenxi Army. He frowned, "With such advanced medicine today, why are there still such cases?"
Gong Luo Que replied, "The weather and environmental conditions in 318 City are too harsh, coupled with the foreign warriors within the city. Many soldiers in the Zhenxi Army are not physically whole."
"The environment here is harsh, and even the military doctors cannot do anything."
Chen Jiuyang took a deep breath, suppressed the killing intent in his heart, and slowly spoke, "I have a favor to ask of you. Please gather all the soldiers in the Zhenxi Army who are unwell."
"I have nothing else, but I can offer my medical skills to these heroes of our Dragon Country."